Shelter: A Heroes Of Big Sky Novel

by Kristen Proby

  I’m going home.

  Chapter 16

  ~Seth~

  It’s still dark, way too early for the kids to be awake, but I can’t sleep, and I’ll bet just about anything that my mom’s already in the kitchen, making breakfast and getting her day going.

  I’m not disappointed when I park my truck by the back door and see the kitchen light on.

  I knock softly and then step inside. Mom looks over in surprise, then offers me a smile.

  “Don’t you ever lock this door?” I ask and lean in to kiss her cheek. “Someone could just walk right in.”

  “I already went out this morning to gather eggs and feed the chickens,” she says as Cap hurries over to get some good morning rubs from her. “What are you two up to?”

  “I couldn’t sleep,” I reply and sit on a stool at the breakfast bar. “Figured I’d come over and see what you’re about to put in the oven.”

  “Scones,” she says. “And your grandma and I made fresh apple jam over the weekend, so you can have some of that if you want.”

  “That sounds pretty damn good. It’s handy having a place so close to you. I can bum food.”

  “That is convenient,” she agrees and checks on the scones in the oven. “Are you missing Remi?”

  “She just left yesterday,” I reply, but then nod when she just stares at me. “Yeah. I miss her. But she’ll be home this weekend.”

  “Do you have long-term plans with her, or is this a fun-for-now situation?”

  “Mom.”

  “What? You think I didn’t ever have a fun-for-now situation?”

  “I really don’t want to consider that, to be honest. That’s just disgusting.”

  She narrows her eyes, but she’s grinning. Mom likes to tease me.

  “I’m gonna marry her.”

  The smile slips away, and tears fill her eyes. “You didn’t tell us you were engaged.”

  “We’re not. Yet. But I know that she’s it for me. I can’t imagine not being with her, you know? She’s been gone for less than twenty-four hours, and I’m lonesome for her. It’s the weirdest thing.”

  “It’s love,” she replies and sniffles, then wipes away a tear. “And I’m just so happy for you. She’s a great girl, and I can see that she is the balance of you. She’s adventurous, and you’ve always had your feet on the ground. I see the way you look at each other. I like to think I still have that with your father.”

  “You two are ridiculous,” I reply and get the smile I was aiming for. “I always thought I’d be a bachelor. I enjoy women, but no one has ever been essential to my well-being. Which sounds dramatic, but—”

  “No, it’s not dramatic. It’s the truth.”

  “She’s important. She’s the best part of everything. So, yeah, I’ll eventually propose, but there’s a lot of time for that.”

  “Oh, absolutely. Plenty of time. You’ve only been seeing each other for what? Less than a couple of months?” She pours us each a cup of coffee, then pulls the scones out of the oven.

  “Yeah, about that. Gimme the scones and no one gets hurt.”

  “They have to cool for a minute.” She sets out butter and the fresh jam and then settles in across from me, her coffee in her hands. “What else is new?”

  “I have a question.”

  She cocks a brow. “Okay.”

  “Is it normal for a girl not to tell her boyfriend when her birthday is?”

  Mom blinks, clearly thinking it over. “I don’t know. I don’t think so. What happened?”

  “It was her birthday on Friday, and she didn’t tell me. Annie texted me and mentioned it, and then I had to scramble. I didn’t have time to get her anything, but I took her out for dinner. I was just kind of pissed that she didn’t tell me.”

  “I guess it could be awkward to work a birthday into conversation.”

  “Why? Just say, ‘So, when’s your birthday?’”

  “Why didn’t you ask her? Why is it up to her to bring it up?”

  “I—it’s not. I didn’t think of it.”

  “We should have a family dinner for her birthday,” Mom suggests. “Next weekend, after she gets back.”

  I reach for a scone and crack it open, spread copious amounts of butter on it, and shove it into my mouth.

  “You’re such a gentleman,” Mom says with complete sarcasm.

  “I know,” I say around the food. “Good.”

  I spread jam over the butter on the other half.

  “I’ll be back later to help Dad and Louie with some stuff in the barn. We need to repair a couple of the stalls after that stallion kicked the hell out of them a few weeks ago.”

  “No work today?”

  “Later,” I confirm. “I have to go up and clean some trails, make sure people are staying where they’re supposed to. And there’s a pair of eagles that I’ve been watching. They’re mated and have built a nest.”

  “That’s exciting,” she says. “Be careful up there. I hate that you don’t have cell service at work.”

  “I like it quiet.” I shrug and take one more scone for the road. “Is Cap okay with you?”

  I break off a piece of my scone and give it to the dog, who wags his tail with enthusiasm.

  “Of course. Oh, and will you please give me Remi’s number? I’d like to invite her out to lunch.”

  “Sure.” I text her the number and then kiss her on the cheek. “I have to run. I’m meeting Gage for breakfast.”

  “You just had breakfast.”

  I just smile at her and head out.

  I always feel better after chatting with my mom.

  “Jesus it’s early,” Gage mutters as he slides into the booth across from me and gratefully accepts a mug of coffee from the waitress at Ed’s.

  “Dude, you were in the Army. You’re used to getting up at the ass crack of dawn.”

  His smile is slow. “Not after the night I just had.”

  “So, things are going well with Tate, then?”

  “You could say that.” He clinks his mug to mine. “Cheers.”

  “How’re your sister and Sam doing?”

  “It’s been a hell of a year,” Gage says, shaking his head. Sam’s sister, Monica, and her husband were killed last year, leaving two kids behind. Sam and Tash took custody of the kids and fell in love in the process. “But they’re figuring it all out. Married life agrees with them. And the kids are doing much better.”

  “Hard to believe it’s been more than a year,” I reply softly.

  “Life moves on,” Gage agrees. “What’s up with you? Why are we here so fucking early?”

  “Because I have to work today. Remi’s out of town, so I thought we could catch up.”

  I fill him in on Remi’s opportunity in Moab.

  “She’s kind of badass, man,” he says when our breakfasts are delivered. “I’ve seen snippets of her challenges on TV. She’s strong.”

  “She’s totally badass.” I nod, proud of her. “You should have seen her up in the park when she was stuck in that storm. I wanted to throttle her, but also, she held her own. If I hadn’t gone up to check on her, it could have ended badly, but only because she’s not familiar with the area. When I showed her the way to the shelter, she kept up with me, and she didn’t just huddle in a corner once we got inside. She busted ass to help me with the fire and all of the blankets and stuff. She’s no coward.”

  “Strong women are hot,” he replies. “I can’t tell you how many times I thought for sure Tate would just throw in the towel and tell me to go fuck myself. I would if it was me. But she never has. She grits her teeth and gets the job done. Even when I know for sure she’s in pain.”

  “Is she starting to feel better?”

  “Yes, she’s making huge gains now. In the beginning, we celebrated the small things, like when she could just lift her left foot off the ground. Or feed herself with her left hand. Now, she barely has a limp. She uses the cane for balance, but I have a hunch she won’t even need that by the end of th
e year.”

  “That’s amazing. You both worked your asses off.”

  “She did all the work, I just badgered her into it.”

  “And yet, she lets you see her naked. I’d tell you to go jump off a bridge.”

  He laughs and then glances toward the door, raising an eyebrow. “Uh, Seth?”

  “Yeah?” I follow his gaze and frown when I see Remi walk in. She makes her way to the counter and sits on a stool. “What the hell? Rem?”

  She looks around, and then her eyes light up when she sees us. She hurries over and slips into the booth next to me, frames my face in her hands, and plants a kiss on me.

  “What the hell are you doing here?”

  “It’s so early, I didn’t want to come out to the ranch in case you were sleeping in. I came back.”

  “I see that. Why?”

  “What can I getcha?” Shirley asks Remi.

  “Coffee and corn beef hash, please.”

  “You got it.”

  Shirley walks away, and I stare at the love of my life, who just materialized as if I wished her into existence.

  “I made it to Pocatello last night,” she says and sips my coffee. “And once I was there, I started to think it all over. Decided I didn’t really want to go do this stupid challenge. I only agreed to it because I felt obligated, and that’s not a good reason. I missed you, and this is where I want to be right now. So, I called my agent and told her to get me out of it, and then I turned around and came home.”

  “They won’t fine you or anything?”

  “No.” She shakes her head and thanks Shirley when her food comes out so quickly. “I’m sure they’re not pleased, but they only gave me a few days’ notice. They’ll be fine. What did I miss? What are you guys doing?”

  “He dragged me out of bed before the sun came up because he was lonely,” Gage says, pointing at me. “So, I took pity on him.”

  “Aw, that’s so sweet,” Remi says with a satisfied smile and chews on her breakfast.

  All I can do is stare at her. She’s here. I was up all night, thinking about how much I wished she was next to me, wanting to hold her, talk to her, make love to her.

  And here she is.

  Because she wants to be here, too.

  “Aren’t you going to eat that?”

  “Yeah.” I take a bite of bacon. “So, I guess Annie won’t be strapped for help this week, after all.”

  “Nope.” She’s damn happy with herself. I wish I didn’t have to work today so I could scoop her up and take her home. Strip her bare and worship every inch of her.

  But there will be plenty of time later.

  “Didn’t you eat at all on the road?” Remi is inhaling her food as if she hasn’t eaten in weeks.

  “Not really,” she says. “I stopped for gas, grabbed a banana somewhere in Idaho. I just wanted to get home, you know?”

  Home.

  She wanted to get home.

  Gage’s gaze meets mine, and he raises a brow. I just smile back at him and wrap my arm around my girl.

  “I get it,” I reply. “And I’m glad you’re home. You should have told me you were going out of obligation. I wouldn’t have suggested you leave.”

  “I thought I wanted to.” She shrugs and pushes her empty plate away. “But then, I didn’t. So, here I am.”

  “Did you run into any bad weather?” Gage asks. “We could get snow this week.”

  “I didn’t run into much,” she replies. “A little rain, but nothing serious. It would suck if the kids had to trick-or-treat in the snow.”

  “We did it plenty,” Gage says with a laugh. “And other years, it was bone dry. You just never know around here.”

  “Don’t go hiking,” Remi advises. “Crazy shit happens up in these mountains.”

  “Anyone could have told you that,” Gage says.

  “I told her that before she went,” I say. “But no, she doesn’t listen.”

  “It was September.” She holds her hands up in exasperation. “Who gets snow in September?”

  “Montana does,” Gage and I say in unison, making us all laugh.

  Remi’s phone rings, and she frowns at the display.

  “I don’t know this number. Hello? Oh, hi, Jillian.” Her violet eyes fly to mine. “No, I’m awake. Yeah. I’m actually at Ed’s with Seth and Gage. I know, I came home early.”

  Gage and I share another look as Remi makes lunch arrangements with my mom. And I’m having a silent conversation with Gage.

  “She’s making plans with your mom.”

  “So?”

  “How serious is this?”

  “Pretty damn serious.”

  “I guess I’m having lunch with your mom tomorrow,” Remi says after she hangs up the phone. “With Cara and Lauren, too.”

  “Nice,” Gage says. “I’ll have to introduce you to my sister, Natasha, sometime. You’d like her.”

  “I’m up for that.”

  “You might meet her at the fire hall on Halloween,” I add. “I’m sure she’ll bring the kids there.”

  “I get to go,” Remi says with excitement. “I’m happy to help out. This will be fun. I’m so glad I came back. Are you going to dress up?”

  “As a park ranger,” I reply and tuck some hair behind her ear. “The kids think I’m cool in my uniform.”

  “That’s not original,” she says. “We could go as a couple! Like, Han Solo and Princess Leia or something.”

  “I look horrible with buns over my ears.” I laugh when she narrows her eyes on me.

  “As entertaining as this is,” Gage says as he tosses some cash on the table, “I have to run. I’m glad you got home safe, Remi.”

  “Thanks. Sorry to crash your guy time.”

  “You’re much prettier to look at,” Gage assures her with a wink, then scoots out of the booth.

  “I should get back to the ranch for a bit to help with some things in the barn, and then I have to go to work.”

  “I thought I’d walk over to see Annie this morning,” Remi says. “And then I’m going back to your place to crash. I haven’t slept since I left yesterday.”

  “Don’t ever do that again.” I urge her chin up with my finger. “That’s not safe. I mean it.”

  “Yes, sir.” Her plump lips twitch into a smile. “I won’t do it again.”

  “I’ll see you later.”

  Chapter 17

  ~Remi~

  The bell rings over the door when I walk inside of Little Deli. This is my typical day off, but sometimes I stop in just to say hi or grab a coffee.

  Or just to chitchat with Annie. She and I have grown really close since I started working for her. She’s almost like a big sister now.

  “What does a girl need to do to get service around here?” I ask loudly, and then grin when Annie comes out from the kitchen. “Surprise!”

  “What in the world are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be at the Grand Canyon or something by now?”

  “Moab,” I confirm. “And I decided I didn’t want to go.”

  I tell her all about the adventures of the last twenty-four hours, and when I’m done, she has a huge smile on her pretty face and nods.

  “Cunningham Falls has soaked into your blood.”

  “Something like that. I don’t have any need to go back to my old life, Annie. I have a great one here.”

  “Yes, you do. Well, welcome home. I can tell my husband he’s off the hook for helping me out this week.”

  “He was going to help?”

  “Yeah, he took time off work and everything. But now he won’t have to do that.”

  “Jesus, Annie, there was no need for that. You should have said something.”

  “No way. I’m just grateful that I have you. I can always work around a little time off here and there. Don’t worry about it. Honest.”

  “You need a day off, you know.”

  “That’s why I close on Mondays. What are you going to do now that you’re home this week?”

/>   “I’m going to nap the rest of today. I’ll wing what comes next.”

  “Enjoy your nap! Take an extra thirty for me, okay?”

  “I got you.” I wink and then wave as I walk out the door and head back down the street to my van.

  The air is crisp and clean. The mountains are just gorgeous with little wisps of clouds barely covering the peaks. I wave at Ty, who regularly comes into the deli, as he jogs by, his shirt soaked through with sweat.

  It’s a quiet Sunday morning in this little town tucked in the mountains.

  Yes, it’s good to be home.

  Something isn’t right.

  I’ve been back at Seth’s for an hour. I took a shower, put on some comfy clothes, and threw a load of laundry into the machine, then my stomach started to cramp horribly.

  It feels like something inside is fighting to get out.

  Like an alien.

  “Oh, shit.” I cover my mouth with my hand and run for the bathroom. I heave until there’s surely nothing left in me. And then, when I finally manage to wipe off my face with a nearby towel, I have to hurry and sit on the toilet.

  Jesus, what’s happening?

  The next thirty minutes are a blur. So much pain, and so many horrible things coming out of my body.

  “I’m dying.” I lie on the cool tile and stare at the ceiling. “This is how it ends.”

  And then I have to throw up again.

  I try to call Seth, but he’s probably already up in the park and has no cell service. Sure enough, I go straight to voicemail.

  I don’t know what to do. Something tells me I shouldn’t be alone.

  So, I call Jillian.

  “Hey, Remi, how’s it going?”

  “I’m not okay,” I choke out and fight back a panic attack. “Something’s wrong, and I don’t know what to do.”

  “Seth said you’re back in town. Are you at his house?”

  “Yes. Oh, God, I can’t stop throwing up.”

  “Hang tight, honey. Cara and I will be right there.”

  I let the phone fall to the floor and hug the toilet. If I move away, I’m afraid I’ll have to throw up again and won’t make it back in time.